Atlantic Wellness: An Essential Pillar For N.B. Youth Mental Health
MONCTON – Atlantic Wellness’ WAVE OF CHANGE campaign is a bid to expand upon the essential, free mental health services the organization provides to youth in southeast New Brunswick.
Kane Melanson, whose son has sought help from Atlantic Wellness since he was 12 years old, stresses how vital the services are. He says nothing in New Brunswick’s private or public sector can compare to its services.
“My son has had mental health issues from a very young age. He has been receiving services from Atlantic Wellness. He is 21 years old now and he’s made five attempts on his life – and they provided critical service for him and tools for us, as parents, to help,” Melanson says.
Melanson says over the past 17 years no other professionals have been able to provide him the same strategies and tools to help his son.
With fees coming in at about $200 a month for private service, Melanson says Atlantic Wellness was far more sustainable for his family – even with health insurance factored in. Melanson stresses that sustainability was crucial during his son’s multiple crises.
“When you look at the quality, it’s more than any paid agency – especially with the night-time clinic service and parents’ support groups. We’d not be where we are today and my son wouldn’t be alive today without that service,” Melanson says.
“The critical part is how parents can actually become active participants. They initiated a parent group and we learned that when we were kids, life was different, without social media and the anxieties kids today are facing, so the strategies we learned growing up were no longer applicable.
“Atlantic Wellness is so in touch with the community and kids of today – they have the ability to communicate to both kids and parents. I know, as parents, that we’ve found success as a family because of the strategies they’ve given us.”
Atlantic Wellness has launched their WAVE OF CHANGE campaign that aims to raise $3.5 million to help the organization grow and expand their youth support services.
Executive Director Andrew LeBlanc says the campaign aims to fund the hiring of two Francophone therapists to give better access to New Brunswick’s French-speaking population. It will also expand the not-for-profit’s outreach services and clinic hours.
Atlantic Wellness provides mental health services to youth between 12 and 21. The organization offers free, one-on-one counselling, along with group counselling and support groups for parents and youth.
LeBlanc says that, right now, youth mental health services—especially services like theirs that are offered for free—are more important than ever for young people.
“Covid-19 really heightened a lot of pre-existing mental health concerns. The demand for our services increased, not just with an influx of new clients but current clients who usually accessed our services once a month needed weekly appointments,” LeBlanc says.
“The biggest effect was the intensity of symptoms; it really amplified a lot of anxiety and depression. Isolation was also a huge factor for many. Unfortunately, we’ll be feeling the residual mental health impacts for a long time to come but thanks to the generosity of our donors, Atlantic Wellness will be here to help.”
Statistics show that young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness or substance use disorders than any other age group.
By 2026, there will be 1,513 youth every year with unmet mental health service needs in Southeastern New Brunswick. And the main reasons they don’t seek help is an inability to pay or not knowing where to turn for help.
LeBlanc says Atlantic Wellness is one of the only mental health organizations in the community to offer free mental healthcare service. It’s proven to be a lifeline to struggling youth, he says, “but we can and must do so much more.”
The WAVE OF CHANGE campaign likens emotions to waves: temporary but occasionally overwhelming and diverting when they whirl and crash. Atlantic Wellness’ services are a vital lifeline and resource to navigate those metaphorical emotional waves.
Cierra Carleton, a youth advocate with Atlantic Wellness who once sought help from the organization, says its services are essential – particularly when the alternatives are waiting lists for specialists, paid services without insurance coverage, and, if things get bad, turning to hospitals.
“That’s how I found Atlantic Wellness: I was in a hospital setting and they suggested I try it out,” she says.
Carleton says the not-for-profit’s main community impact is taking care of youth, so they’ll be set for a better future. She adds that the not-for-profit has come a long way since it helped her, with even more resources available for those in need. She says the proceeds from WAVE OF CHANGE are crucial to grow its reach.
“The counselling services I received and the funds that are provided to us go a long way for those who can’t necessarily afford it. You never know who is going to need that service,” she says.
To donate to Atlantic Wellness, or learn more about the WAVE OF CHANGE campaign, visit www.atlanticwellness.org.
This story is sponsored by Atlantic Wellness.